It's been a long week, for me and I'm sure many others. I'm looking forward to this weekend and also next weekend: we have a four day Fall break. I've already completed my domestic tasks tonight so tomorrow I have more free time. I'll make apple crisp and some veggie soup. Maybe some homemade bread.
Focusing on the timeless domestic satisfying tasks helps me stay relaxed as the news gets darker and more potent. I also love to listen to good, strong sermons.
I heard a very good sermon tonight from Don Green at Grace Community Church (John MacArthur's church.) It is on "Marriage and Singleness". He began his sermon with a definition of marriage: "A God ordained institution in which a man and a woman covenant with one another to live as husband and wife in an exclusive monogamous relationship for the remainder of their earthly lives together."
I was listening to another sermon, and I'm sorry I don't remember this one's origins, but I heard the following and immediately wrote it down: "We've gone from Norman Rockwell's America to Hugh Hefner's America." Boy, ain't that the truth.
That reminds me of the verse from Luke 17:29-30, 'As it was in the days of Lot, even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed'...
America in decline is all the rage this week. An article in the UK's Financial Times stated, "America must manage its decline".
A movie is making the rounds, "Agenda: Grinding America Down". "When Idaho legislator Curtis Bowers wrote a “Letter to the Editor” about the drastic changes in America’s culture, it became the feature story on the evening news, people protested at the capitol, and for weeks the local newspapers were filled with responses. He realized then that he’d hit on something. Ask almost anyone and you will hear, “Communism is dead! The Berlin wall came down.” But although the word “communism” has fallen out of favor, Marxism continues to have a powerful influence upon our nation, as this new film quickly reveals. Join Bowers for a fascinating look at the people and groups that have successfully targeted America’s morality and freedom in their effort to grind America down."
Watching the interesting 6-minute trailer for the film, I was reminded of Naomi Wolf's assertion in 2007 that we are all on the way to Fascism, in her treatise "Fascist America, in 10 easy steps." I wrote about it at the time, and was roundly criticized. Now we can see that the ten steps are fulfilled.
Dimitry Orlov, author of Reinventing Collapse, has been saying the same for lots longer. His perennial favorite article, written in Dec. 2006: "Closing the 'Collapse Gap': the USSR was better prepared for collapse than the US." He said it again on October 9, here. Dmitry Orlov (born 1962) is an engineer and a writer on subjects related to "potential economic, ecological and political decline and collapse in the United States," something he has called “permanent crisis”. Orlov believes collapse will be the result of huge military budgets, government deficits, an unresponsive political system and declining oil production. (source). His perspective is interesting because he is from the old Soviet Union, and writes extensively on how the Soviets were so much better prepared to handle a collapse than the Americans, and why.
A strong quake at Kermedec Islands struck today, 7.4. Another strong quake struck at Japan today, a 6.1. (USGS). Erki Klemetti at Eruptions blog noted a quake swarm at Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
The nations listed in prophecy are alive in the headlines. Libya's Gaddafi was killed this week and Russia is claiming that the kill breached International Law. Both nations are Gog Magog coalition partners.
Syria is claiming that any Mid East war will begin at Tel Aviv, which, according to Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17, may well happen in that way. Most scholars believe that Psalm 83 is a parked intercessory prayer for a war that has not happened yet. Isaiah 17 prophesies the overnight destruction of Damascus, Syria, and both of these likely precede the Ezekiel Gog Magog war. Psalm 83 includes Syria, Gog Magog includes Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Libya and others.
Speaking of Iran, it seems they have enough bomb making materials to make 4 nukes. They are so close that they are moving their nuke stuff to bunkers to better protect it. If they get their stuff into bunkers, a strike by US or Israel will be all the more difficult.
He is the Light! No matter the news, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1) Salvation is eternal, and it is secure.
I love to think of the Lord as the Light. He is so bright, so light, and His glory is bright forever. "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." (Psalms 36:9). I believe we shall see that Light soon.
Maranatha!
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Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Gaddafi's death predicted in 1987: off by only 83 days
The 1987 sitcom "Second Chance" premiered for only one season. In this clip, Gaddafi meets St. Peter.
This was a terrorist, a killer, and a murderer of innocent people. The UK Daily Sun has a full front page photo of dead Gaddafi's head with the blaring headline, "THIS IS FOR LOCKERBIE!"
Lockerbie was an incident that happened in 1988. Lockerbie is known internationally as the place where the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 crashed after a bomb exploded during the flight. In the United Kingdom the event is often referred to as the Lockerbie disaster, the Lockerbie bombing, or simply Lockerbie. Eleven residents of the town were killed in Sherwood Crescent, where the plane's wings and fuel tanks plummeted in a fiery explosion, destroying several houses and leaving a huge crater, with debris causing damage to a number of other buildings nearby. The 270 victims (259 on the plane and eleven in Lockerbie) were citizens of twenty-one different nations. The bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Eleven people in Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, were also killed when plane parts fell on them.
Libya, and Gaddafi, were behind it. They admitted it in 2003 when they sent a letter to he UN admitting responsibility (but not guilt). It was noted that the language of the letter contained no remorse for the victims. The motive was that Libya was angry with the US Navy. For these and other murderous and horrific acts long remembered, the world is breathing a sigh of relief that the crazy dictator is dead.
I had written earlier today about Gaddafi's death, and quoted Joel Rosenberg's notation that Gaddafi had called himself the "king of kings." Of course, bible students will know that the title is reserved for Jesus only, and right now Gaddafi is realizing his eternal mistake.
But this post is about the bigger mistake, and the bigger mercy. While the human side of me wants to engage in a little Schadenfreude, as did the UK Daily Mail, and in seeing the unique justice "St. Peter" enjoined upon Gaddafi in the sitcom clip, I must refrain. Gaddafi's bigger mistake is that if he had repented, he, too, would have been welcomed into heaven. Really? Yes.
Gaddafi was a sinner, like us, who are sinners. All sins are crimes against God, and all sins had been pardoned at the cross. The big mistake was that Gaddafi had not accepted that pardon for sins and thus believing on the One God had sent: Jesus. (John 6:29)
The bigger mercy is that God forgives crazy dictators as much as He forgives ...you and me. Because Gaddafi refused Jesus's authority and forgiveness, he will spend eternity in hell. Just as any person will.
So often people use evil people like Hitler or Gaddafi as a benchmark against which they compare their own 'goodness.' They say, "I'm a good person. I will go to heaven. Not like that crazy dictator Gaddafi. He was really bad!" Well God's justice is over all, including the small as well as the great.
Rev 20:12 says "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." But just as Gaddafi and others who refused Christ will be judged, He is merciful to one and all as well:
"and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:14-16.)
I hope you are one of those who comes to Jesus. Realize that if you don't, you will share the exact same fate as Muammar Gaddafi.
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This was a terrorist, a killer, and a murderer of innocent people. The UK Daily Sun has a full front page photo of dead Gaddafi's head with the blaring headline, "THIS IS FOR LOCKERBIE!"
Lockerbie was an incident that happened in 1988. Lockerbie is known internationally as the place where the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 crashed after a bomb exploded during the flight. In the United Kingdom the event is often referred to as the Lockerbie disaster, the Lockerbie bombing, or simply Lockerbie. Eleven residents of the town were killed in Sherwood Crescent, where the plane's wings and fuel tanks plummeted in a fiery explosion, destroying several houses and leaving a huge crater, with debris causing damage to a number of other buildings nearby. The 270 victims (259 on the plane and eleven in Lockerbie) were citizens of twenty-one different nations. The bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Eleven people in Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, were also killed when plane parts fell on them.
Libya, and Gaddafi, were behind it. They admitted it in 2003 when they sent a letter to he UN admitting responsibility (but not guilt). It was noted that the language of the letter contained no remorse for the victims. The motive was that Libya was angry with the US Navy. For these and other murderous and horrific acts long remembered, the world is breathing a sigh of relief that the crazy dictator is dead.
I had written earlier today about Gaddafi's death, and quoted Joel Rosenberg's notation that Gaddafi had called himself the "king of kings." Of course, bible students will know that the title is reserved for Jesus only, and right now Gaddafi is realizing his eternal mistake.
But this post is about the bigger mistake, and the bigger mercy. While the human side of me wants to engage in a little Schadenfreude, as did the UK Daily Mail, and in seeing the unique justice "St. Peter" enjoined upon Gaddafi in the sitcom clip, I must refrain. Gaddafi's bigger mistake is that if he had repented, he, too, would have been welcomed into heaven. Really? Yes.
Gaddafi was a sinner, like us, who are sinners. All sins are crimes against God, and all sins had been pardoned at the cross. The big mistake was that Gaddafi had not accepted that pardon for sins and thus believing on the One God had sent: Jesus. (John 6:29)
The bigger mercy is that God forgives crazy dictators as much as He forgives ...you and me. Because Gaddafi refused Jesus's authority and forgiveness, he will spend eternity in hell. Just as any person will.
So often people use evil people like Hitler or Gaddafi as a benchmark against which they compare their own 'goodness.' They say, "I'm a good person. I will go to heaven. Not like that crazy dictator Gaddafi. He was really bad!" Well God's justice is over all, including the small as well as the great.
Rev 20:12 says "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." But just as Gaddafi and others who refused Christ will be judged, He is merciful to one and all as well:
"and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:14-16.)
I hope you are one of those who comes to Jesus. Realize that if you don't, you will share the exact same fate as Muammar Gaddafi.
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Libya's Moammar Gadhafi is dead- Updated
Update at bottom.
Gadhafi was a tyrannical and despotic dictator who oppressed his people in Libya for 42 years. After Fidel Castro who resigned in 2008, Qaddafi was the world's longest ruling leader. And now he is dead. Does this have anything to do with bible prophecy? Yes.
Libya is one of the nations mentioned specifically as a major player in end time prophecy. A coalition of nations will attack Israel in the last days. It includes Iran, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya along with some in "the isles". This listing of the nations who attack Israel is found in Ezekiel 38:1-6. What happens is, Israel is unsuspecting, living with confidence in a "land of unwalled villages" (Ez 38:11) when they are sudd. The attack is going well for the coalition and very badly for Israel. Israel is on the brink of losing, God saves them, and God says that everyone will know that it was Him who saved them. (Ex 39:6-7).
It is Libya along with the other nations along the northern tier of north Africa that joins with Russia and Iran and Turkey etc to attack Israel. It is believed that this battle takes place at the very end of the last days and at the very beginning of the Tribulation. This is because, as mentioned above, Israel returns to covenant with God through this battle, having seen Him save them. "From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God." (Ez 39:22).
"‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel. It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of." (Ez 39:7-8). So if Israel is back in covenant with God it means the last 7 years of the Old Testament times that have been suspended all this time will resume. The church will be gone. And it is thought to be at the very beginning of the tribulation because the verse in Ez 39:9 says they will use the fuel from the downed planes and tanks and military things for 7 years. So there has to be 7 years remaining for them to use it.
Any time there is major news about any of the Gog-Magog nations listed in Ezekiel 38-39, and also the Psalm 83 list of nations, I take notice. World events in and among the nations listed as end time or tribulation nations which are the ones that propel prophecy further along are in the news headlines almost daily now. The LORD soon comes. Are you ready? I hope so. Do not put off your repentance, asking Him to forgive your sin. I hope to see you at the Marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.
--------------UPDATE-------------
Christian writer Joel C. Rosenberg write this about Gaddafi today:
"Reuters is now confirming that Muammar Gaddafi is dead. Libya’s Prime Minister has also confirmed the news. The tyrant of Tripoli — a man whose hands were soaked with blood, a man who called himself the “King of kings” — has been brought to justice. Now, in death, he knows the truth: that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. As an evangelical Christian, I will pray for his family and colleagues, that the Lord would comfort and console them and that they would repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord."
"Now there are new concerns: Will Libyan people — so badly oppressed for so many years — truly be set free, or enslaved by leaders as bad or worse than Gaddafi? Where is Libya headed next? Will the rebels ally themselves with the West, or with the Radical jihadists of Iran, Sudan and al Qaeda? The mullahs in Tehran have been seizing the initiative and moving strategically in recent months to exploit the chaos in Libya and build an alliance with the rebels. They are eager to build an anti-American, anti-Israeli coalition throughout the Middle East and North Africa to lay the groundwork for an Islamic caliphate. What’s more, the mullahs in Tehran believe the fall of leaders in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt are prophetic signs that the Twelfth Imam’s arrival is soon, as explained in the Iranian documentary film, “The Coming Is Upon Us,” released earlier this year."
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Gadhafi was a tyrannical and despotic dictator who oppressed his people in Libya for 42 years. After Fidel Castro who resigned in 2008, Qaddafi was the world's longest ruling leader. And now he is dead. Does this have anything to do with bible prophecy? Yes.
Libya is one of the nations mentioned specifically as a major player in end time prophecy. A coalition of nations will attack Israel in the last days. It includes Iran, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya along with some in "the isles". This listing of the nations who attack Israel is found in Ezekiel 38:1-6. What happens is, Israel is unsuspecting, living with confidence in a "land of unwalled villages" (Ez 38:11) when they are sudd. The attack is going well for the coalition and very badly for Israel. Israel is on the brink of losing, God saves them, and God says that everyone will know that it was Him who saved them. (Ex 39:6-7).
It is Libya along with the other nations along the northern tier of north Africa that joins with Russia and Iran and Turkey etc to attack Israel. It is believed that this battle takes place at the very end of the last days and at the very beginning of the Tribulation. This is because, as mentioned above, Israel returns to covenant with God through this battle, having seen Him save them. "From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God." (Ez 39:22).
"‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel. It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of." (Ez 39:7-8). So if Israel is back in covenant with God it means the last 7 years of the Old Testament times that have been suspended all this time will resume. The church will be gone. And it is thought to be at the very beginning of the tribulation because the verse in Ez 39:9 says they will use the fuel from the downed planes and tanks and military things for 7 years. So there has to be 7 years remaining for them to use it.
Any time there is major news about any of the Gog-Magog nations listed in Ezekiel 38-39, and also the Psalm 83 list of nations, I take notice. World events in and among the nations listed as end time or tribulation nations which are the ones that propel prophecy further along are in the news headlines almost daily now. The LORD soon comes. Are you ready? I hope so. Do not put off your repentance, asking Him to forgive your sin. I hope to see you at the Marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.
--------------UPDATE-------------
Christian writer Joel C. Rosenberg write this about Gaddafi today:
"Reuters is now confirming that Muammar Gaddafi is dead. Libya’s Prime Minister has also confirmed the news. The tyrant of Tripoli — a man whose hands were soaked with blood, a man who called himself the “King of kings” — has been brought to justice. Now, in death, he knows the truth: that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. As an evangelical Christian, I will pray for his family and colleagues, that the Lord would comfort and console them and that they would repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord."
"Now there are new concerns: Will Libyan people — so badly oppressed for so many years — truly be set free, or enslaved by leaders as bad or worse than Gaddafi? Where is Libya headed next? Will the rebels ally themselves with the West, or with the Radical jihadists of Iran, Sudan and al Qaeda? The mullahs in Tehran have been seizing the initiative and moving strategically in recent months to exploit the chaos in Libya and build an alliance with the rebels. They are eager to build an anti-American, anti-Israeli coalition throughout the Middle East and North Africa to lay the groundwork for an Islamic caliphate. What’s more, the mullahs in Tehran believe the fall of leaders in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt are prophetic signs that the Twelfth Imam’s arrival is soon, as explained in the Iranian documentary film, “The Coming Is Upon Us,” released earlier this year."
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